Clothes-drying rack



Feb 10, '1925.

- 1,525,461 w. c. Moons CLOTHES DRYING RACK Filed April 2s,1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 iii L 3mm/dom;

WALTiR CMooRs,

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Feb, l0, 1925.`

w, c. Moons CLTHES -DRYNG RAK Filed prix 2s, 192s 4tis :L

2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Patented Feb. l0, 1925.

NITED STATES WALTER C. MOORS, OF OWENSBOR'O, KENTUCKY..

CLOTHES-DRYING RACK.

Application filed April 23, 1923.

To all whom t may com/entf Be it known that 1, WALTER C. Moons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owensboro, in the county of Daviess and lState of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clot-hes- Drying Racks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to clothes drying racks, and aims to provide a novel andimproved construction of that kind.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of such a rack having a post with means for securing it firmly in place between and clamped against the floor and ceiling of a room.

Another object is the provision of novel rack members movably mounted on the post to be conveniently positioned for placing the clothes thereon and removing the clothes therefrom, and including radial arms or bars adapted to be folded adjacent to the post when not in use.`

A further object is the provision of novel means for adjustably supporting the rack members on the post, and for conveniently enabling the rack members to be raised and lowered and to be supported at different vertical positions.

It is also` an object of the invention to provide such a rack structure which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, which will have a comparatively large capacity while requiring comparatively little space within the room, and which can be compactly folded to be stored away when not in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rack, portions being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 2-2 giving a plan view of one of the rack members, portions being broken away.

Serial No. 634,022.

Fig. 3 is al vertical section, on the line l8--3 of Fig. 2, portions being broken away.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the respective lines 4 4 and 5-5 of Fig. 3.

ln carrying out the invention there is provided a post 10 which is adjustable vertically for rooms of different heights, and the lower portion of the post is fitted slidably in a stand comprising the hollow conical base 11 and a vertical tube 12 having its lower portion secured in the apex of the base 11 by means of rivets 13 or the like. The post 10 is slidable snugly in the tube 12 to be raised and lowered.

The post, as shown, comprises the lower and upper sections `14 and 14 of wood or other suitable material, the lower sec-tion being relatively long and the upper section short. rlhe adjacent ends of the sections 14 and 14 are slightly reduced'in diameter and slipped within a sleeve 15, thus providing a slip joint between the sections of the post, permitting the sections to be separated. The sleeve 15 is preferably secured in any suitable manner to one section of the post. An inverted conical head 16 is secured on the upper end of the section 14 and has a felt pad 17 or other suitable cushion on the upper` surface thereof to bear upwardly against the ceiling.

1n order to clamp the base 11 on the floor and the head '16 against the ceiling, a split collar 18 embraces the post 10 and has outstanding ears 19 at its ends through which a clamping screw 2O engages, whereby said collar can be clamped tightly on the post-` A cam ring 21 is rotatable on the post below the collar 18 and has a radial handle 22. The lower surface of the collar 18 and upper surface of thel ring 21 are inclined, as at 23, and the ring 21 seats on the upper end of the tube 12 of the stand, a band 24 being welded or otherwise secured on the upper end of the tube 12 to provide a substantial seat or bearing for the ring 21.

To secure the post in place, the base. 11:

is seated on the floor at the desired point and the post is slid upwardly to bring V,the head 16 against the ceiling. The collar18 is 4then loosened and slid downwardlycn.

the ring 21, as seen in Figs. 1 and3,"after which the collar 18 is tightened onl the post. The ring 21 is then turned by meansof the handle 22, which will create avv/edging or cam vaction between the collar, 18 11dY hand 24l at the upper end of the stand, to force the post upwardly, thereby clamping the base and head tightly against the. floor and ceiling. This will make. the post Vsubstantial, and will preventthe structurel from tilting or being knocked down. To loosen the post, the ring 2l is simply turned back, and by loosening the collar 18, the post can be slid into the stand, to reduce the height of the rack.

Two rack members or frames are mounted on the post, as shown, although any number of them can be used as may be found .suitable under different circumstances. Each rack' member or frame comprises a setof radial arms or bars 25 extending in different directions a horizontal plane from a hub 26 which is slidable and rota-table on the post. The hub 26 has the radial socket portions or brackets`27 projecting therefrom, and said portions or brackets are of U-sha-ped section to provide pockets in which the inner end portions of the arms or bars 25 are titted. A flat annular ring or plate 29 surrounds the hub and seats on the upper edges of the portions 27. Bolts 30 extend down through the plate 29 and hub 26, for clamping the plate 29 on the portions 27, and said bolts have nuts 3l at the lower ends thereof, the heads of the bolts seating on the plate 29.

In order to connect the arms with the hub structure, rods 32 are dispose-d above the inner end portions of the arms 25 parallel therewith and have their ends bent at angles therefrom and engaged securely in said arms. The plate 29 has apertures 33 through which the rods 32 extend for sliding and swinging movements. The bottoms of the portions 27 have radial slots or openings 34 permitting the inner ends of the arms to swing and slide downwardly through said slots, when the arms are swung` upwardly and inwardly and they slide downwardly as shown in' dotted lines in 3. The inner ends of the arms 25 are cut obliquely, as at 35, to permit them to swing dowmvardly through the slots 34 without interference, and the apertures 33 being close to the outer edge of the plate 29 will permit'the arms 25 to be swung upwardly to folded position. When the arms are swung to horizontal position, they bear on the bottoms of the. portions or brackets 27, and also bear upwardly against the upper plate 29, to support said arms in a substantial manner so that they can support the clothes or other objects placed thereon. The arms 2 5 are thus connected in the radial pockets of the hub structure, so thatV the arms can beY swung upwardly and then slid downward into the slots or openings 34, the rods 32 hingedly connecting the arms tothegplate 29`for'upward swinging movement and guiding the arms for vertical sliding movement when swung upwardly to vertical position. llhen the arms are swung'.- upw'ardly and then slid downwardly to enter the openings 34 they are retained in folded position adjacent to the post. To unfold the arms they are slid upwardly as far as the rods 32 will permit and are then swung outwardly and do wnwardly.

Each rack member or frame is adjustably supported on the post to be disposedat dif-A ferent vertical positions conveniently, and to permit the rack member to rotate in any of its vertical positions, Thus,-a supporting sleeve 36 is slidably mounted on the post` under each hub 26, and the hub seats von the upper end of said sleeve. There is a swivel connection between the hubV and sleeve to hold them assembled. Thus, the sleeve 36 has an outstanding annular flange 37 at its upper end, and an arcuate plate 38 .engages the corresponding bolts and is clamped between the nuts 3l andjhub 26, and said plate 3S has .its inner edge portion offset downwardly to form a lip 39 engaging;

under the flange 37, thereby holding the hub r26 and sleeve 36 assembled, but permitting the hub to rotate freely even though the sleeve 36 is secured to the post. The arcuate plate 38 can be placed partly around the sleeve 36 from one side and can be secured to the hub structure by removing the nuts 3l and slipping the plate 38 on the lower terminals of the bolts, after which the nuts 3l are applied.

The sleeve 36 'carriesmeans for clamping it to the post. Thus, thesleeve has an opening 4() at one side and ears 4l oust'anding` from the sleeve at opposite sides of said opening. An eccentric cam 42` is pivoted between the ears 41 on a pivot 43 extending through said ears and cam, and said cam projects in the opening and has a rolling Contact with the post so that the sleeve 36in moving downwardly,l will, by the rolling action of the cam 42 against the post, clamp the sleeve against the post by the action of the cam 42. A leaf spring 44 is secured in the Acam 42 above the pivot 43 and bears against the sleeve 36 above the opening 40, so as to turn the cam to clamp the sleeve 36 to the post. The cam 42 has an outwardly or radially extending arm 45 provided with an aperture 46,

lll/*hen a rack member has been filled' with clothes, which can be readily done with the rack member in a lowered position, theraclr member can` then be slid upwardly by shovV ing it upwardly with a stick or pole. The cam 42 will simply drag along they post during the upward movement of the rack" member, and when said member is released',I and starts t0 move downwardly, the rolling contact of the cam I42 aoiainst the post, assisted by the action of the spring 44, will causethe cam 42 to clamp the sleeve 36 in place. This will support the rack member in its raised position. The uppermost rack member can be slid up near the ceiling, and the lower rack member can then be filled and slid upwardly in the same way.

l/Vhen it is desired to lower the rack member, the upper end of a stick or pole is engaged in the aperture 46 of theYV arm 45 of the rack member, and said arm is swung upwardly, thereby releasing the cam 42 from the post, and permitting the rack member to slide downwardly with the stick or pole, the weight of the rack member and clothes thereon holding the cam 42 in released position while the rack member is being lowered with the stick or pole. However, if the pole or stick is withdrawn from the arm 45, the cam 42 will immediately bind the sleeve 36 in place on the pole, so that the rack member cannot drop accidentally.

When the rack is not in use, the arms 25 can be swung upwardly adjacent to the post, and the rack, when loosened from the ceiling, can be taken down and stored away within small space.

The rack can also be used in the corner of a room by placing the post at the corner of the room after the arms 25 adjacent to the walls of the room have been swung upwardly, so that only the remaining arms are available for supporting the clothes. This arrangement is satisfactory when the full capacity of the rack is not required.

By the provision of the hollow or tubular stand, another advantage is obtained, it being noted that the lower end as well as the upper end of the stand is open. Thus, the lower end of the stand can be fitted over a stake driven in the ground or some other member, for supporting the stand in upright position, and the post can be inserted in the Lipper end of the stand. The rack can thus be used out of doors.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is l. A rack comprising a stand to seat on the floor, a post slidably engaging the stand and adapted to bear upwardly at its upper end against the ceiling of a room, a member adjustable vertically on the post, means supported by the stand on which said member 'is seatable and operable for raising said member and post relative to the stand and clamping the stand and post against the floor and ceiling, and a rack member mounted on the post.

2. A rack comprising a sta-nd having a base and an upstanding tube, a post slidable in said tube and adapted to bear at its upper end against the ceiling of a room, a cam ring surrounding the post and seating on said tube, a member on the post to seat on said ring for raising the post relatively to the stand when said ring is turned, for clamping the base and post against the floor and ceiling, and a rack member mounted on the post.

3. A rack comprising a stand, a post slidable in the stand, an adjustable member on the post, and a cam ring rotatable on the post and disposed between said member and stand for raising the post relatively to the stand for clamping the stand and post against the floor and ceiling of a room, respectively.

4. A rack comprising a stand to seat on the floor of aroom, a post slidable in the stand and adapted to bear upwardly against the ceiling of a room, an adjustable collar on the post, a cam ring rotatable on the post and seatable on the stand, said collar being adapted to seat on said ring to be raised when the ring is turned, for adjusting the stand and post to clamp them against the floor and ceiling, and a rack member mounted on the post.

5. A rack comprising supporting portions of U-shaped cross section and a plate over said portions, arms having their inner ends fitted in said portions, and rods carried by sa'id arms engaging through said plate for swinging and sliding movements to permit the arms to be swung upwardly and slid downwardly, the bottoms of said portions Ahaving openings to receive the arms when swung upwardly and slid downwardly.

6. A rack comprising a post, a rack member slidable on the post, a sleeve slidable on the post to support said member, means carried by the sleeve for clamping 'it to the post, and a swivel connection between said member and sleeve including an arcuate plate extending partly around the post at one side and secured to said member, the sleeve having a iange engaging said plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

WALTER C. MOORS. 

